Lexus uses Oculus Rift VR tech for 2015 RC F test drives

By Stephen Edelstein Published October 3, 2014

What if you’re looking to buy a high-performance car, but can’t find a track to really wring it out on?

Lexus applied a bit of virtual-reality tech to that problem, building a driving simulator for the 2015 RC F using Oculus Rift’s Development Kit 2.

Recommended Videos

Called the RC F Rift, it uses the car’s actual steering column and an Oculus headset, allowing test drivers to put the RC F through its paces on a virtual racetrack.

Related: 2015 Lexus RC F and Lexus RC 350 first drive

The simulation does a decent impression of the Lexus’ 476-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 wail, but it may not produce the feedback one experiences when piloting an actual car around a track.

This isn’t the first automotive application of virtual reality of simulation. Lexus uses a sophisticated simulator of its own for vehicle development, and Ford uses VR headsets to let designers and engineers to do virtual walk-arounds of cars.

However, the Lexus RC F Rift is more about fun than research. It will be touring auto shows for the next several months, so maybe you’ll get to strap on the headset and go for drive without leaving the local convention center.

Topics

Virtual Reality

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Costco, Electrify America add EV-charging stations in three states

costco electrify america add 50 ev charging stations in three states ea chargers 1280

Costco, which had abandoned offering EV charging 12 years ago, is getting serious about resuming the service.

Over a month ago, the big-box retailer once again put its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington, that was made by Electric Era .

Cars

Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work

Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.